In the glade

Adam is at (field) hockey camp at one of the schools in town this week and I took Monty for a walk across the adjacent common and along a path with runs between Hobson's Conduit (a little stream) and some allotments. At the end of the allotments is some uncultivated land and this Muntjac deer and I surprised each other. He was about 8 ft away from me - I've never seen one so close and he had been standing watching the dog (who was oblivious to him!). As I lifted the camera he trotted down the path, turned and looked at me. Unfortunately light levels were low and I seem to have focussed on his bottom! Muntjac's are actually Chinese, escaped from Woburn Safari Park in 1925 and have been breeding successfully ever since. Monty did manage to spot a great big rat on the path but I'll spare you that.

Off to Book Club tonight so I'll catch up tomorrow.

[Cherrill]

Wonderful sighting Judith! And the dim light just adds to the sense of woodland.

[Joi Tjeerdsma]

Amazing! This shot is perfect! A Fav!

[Isla Wight]

Magically sweet.

[Diana Moss]

Wow wonderful capture

[Hamble]

Great capture! A lovely shot.

[Michelle]

Amazing shot! :)

[Juliette Packham]

ah, but what a lovely bottom it is! This is a great capture - I've got visions of you in the @Phil_Howcroft pose - Monty in one hand wildy trying to position the camera without him spotting some prey in the other! :o) (though bet you didn't have a shopping bag with you!) I've never got my camera to hand when I have a surprise spot like this - you did well!

[John]

Fantastic shot

[bernadette mcelligott]

oh wow judith, I dream of shots ike this.

[Shanne]

wonderful sighting and great capture - I've come nose to nose with muntjac down paths across crop fields, but very briefly, not long enough to lift camera to them

[Mair]

How lucky to see it (I imagine they are quite shy) luckierstill to get camera ready in time and for it to pose!!

[Peggy Sirk]

Such a wonderful capture, Judith! You were quick on the draw to catch this sweet face. Well done!
Hope you enjoyed your book club get together. What is your group reading now?

[joey d.Muli]

great capture !!!:)

[naladka]

I like the mood here - it's kind of like having a glance inside his world :)

[ottery]

Beautiful! I love the woodland setting

[Judith Greenwood]

@sparkle A shopping bag would tip me over the edge! I must learn not to gasp in the presence of wildlife - they don't like it. Must have been downwind of Monty's nose - if he'd seen it it would have been dislocated shoulder time!

[Helen Moss]

well spotted - such a lovely shot. We are overrun with muntjacs here but I've never managed to capture one in a photo - maybe something to do with 2 border collies crashing about ahead of me!